Skate with removable wheel assembly

ABSTRACT

A skate with removable wheel assembly including a boot portion comprised of an upper foot receiving portion and a lower sole portion. The upper foot-receiving portion has an open upper end and a closed lower end. The lower sole portion is removably secured to the closed lower end of the upper foot-receiving portion. The lower sole portion has a groove formed therein. The groove has an open forward end. A wheel assembly is adapted for removably coupling with the boot portion. The wheel assembly is comprised of a housing having an inverted U-shaped configuration. The housing has an upper end and a lower end. The lower end has a plurality of wheels coupled thereto in a linear configuration. The upper end has a track secured thereto. The track is dimensioned for being slidably received within the open forward end of the groove of the lower sole portion of the boot portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a skate with removable wheel assembly and more particularly pertains to allowing a pair of shoes to be converted from an in-line skate to a pair of walking shoes.

[0002] Many people today use in-line skates as a mode of transportation. The use of in-line skates is particularly prevalent in urban areas where couriers and messengers utilize in-line skates to travel from building to building performing their jobs. Unfortunately, many of these buildings do not allow these couriers to enter these buildings wearing in-line skates due to the damage they may cause to the floor or for whatever reason. This requires the couriers to remove the in-line skates and replace them with a pair of standard shoes or sneakers that they must tote around with them as well as the items that they are delivering. What is needed is an in-line skate that can be easily converted into a walking shoe to allow couriers, or whoever is using them, to simplify their lives.

[0003] The present invention attempts to solve the abovementioned problem by providing a pair of in-line skates that have removable wheel assemblies whereupon removal of the wheel assemblies, the user is left with an exposed rubber sole that they can comfortably walk upon.

[0004] The use of skate assemblies is known in the prior art. More specifically, skate assemblies heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of facilitating the ability to walk with in-line skates are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.

[0005] By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,675 to Olson discloses a skate having rollers that are attachable to a boot using a tongue and groove assembly, comprised of front and rear attachment means secured with a bolt. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,015,156 to Pratt and 6,019,377 to Chiu disclose additional skates with detachable boot assemblies.

[0006] While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objective and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a skate with removable wheel assembly for allowing a pair of shoes to be converted from an in-line skate to a pair of walking shoes.

[0007] In this respect, the skate with removable wheel assembly according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of allowing a pair of shoes to be converted from an in-line skate to a pair of walking shoes.

[0008] Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved skate with removable wheel assembly which can be used for allowing a pair of shoes to be converted from an in-line skate to a pair of walking shoes. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] In the view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of skate assemblies now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved skate with removable wheel assembly. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved skate with removable wheel assembly which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

[0010] To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a boot portion comprised of an upper foot receiving portion and a lower sole portion. The upper foot-receiving portion has an open upper end and a closed lower end. The upper foot-receiving portion further includes a toe portion and a heel portion. The heel portion of the upper foot-receiving portion has a locking pawl pivotally coupled thereto. The lower sole portion is removably secured to the closed lower end of the upper foot-receiving portion. The lower sole portion has a T-shaped groove formed therein. The T-shaped groove extends a length of the lower sole portion. The T-shaped groove has an open forward end. A wheel assembly is adapted for removably coupling with the boot portion. The wheel assembly is comprises of a housing having an inverted U-shaped configuration. The housing has an upper end, a lower end, a forward end, and a rearward end. The lower end has a plurality of wheels coupled thereto in a linear configuration. The upper end has a T-shaped track secured thereto. The T-shaped track is dimensioned for being slidably received within the open forward end of the T-shaped groove of the lower sole portion of the boot portion. The rearward end has a ratchet disposed thereon for being selectively engaged by the locking pawl of the boot portion in a locked orientation.

[0011] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

[0012] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0013] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0014] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved skate with removable wheel assembly which has all the advantages of the prior art skate assemblies and none of the disadvantages.

[0015] It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved skate with removable wheel assembly which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

[0016] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved skate with removable wheel assembly which is of durable and reliable construction.

[0017] An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved skate with removable wheel assembly which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such skate with removable wheel assembly economically available to the buying public.

[0018] Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved skate with removable wheel assembly for allowing a pair of shoes to be converted from an in-line skate to a pair of walking shoes

[0019] Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved skate with removable wheel assembly including a boot portion comprised of an upper foot receiving portion and a lower sole portion. The upper foot-receiving portion has an open upper end and a closed lower end. The upper foot-receiving portion further includes a toe portion and a heel portion. The lower sole portion is removably secured to the closed lower end of the upper foot-receiving portion. The lower sole portion has a groove formed therein. The groove extends a length of the lower sole portion. The groove has an open forward end. A wheel assembly is adapted for removably coupling with the boot portion. The wheel assembly is comprises of a housing having an inverted U-shaped configuration. The housing has an upper end, a lower end, a forward end, and a rearward end. The lower end has a plurality of wheels coupled thereto in a linear configuration. The upper end has a track secured thereto. The T-shaped track is dimensioned for being slidably received within the open forward end of the groove of the lower sole portion of the boot portion.

[0020] These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

[0022]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the skate with removable wheel assembly constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

[0023]FIG. 2 is a front view of the removable wheel assembly of the present invention illustrated removed from the boot portion thereof.

[0024]FIG. 3 is a side view of the present invention in an in-line skate orientation.

[0025] The same reference numerals refer to the same parts through the various figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0026] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular, to FIGS. 1 through 3 thereof, the preferred embodiment of the new and improved skate with removable wheel assembly embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference number 10 will be described.

[0027] Specifically, it will be noted in the various Figures that the device relates to a skate with removable wheel assembly for allowing a pair of shoes to be converted from an in-line skate to a pair of walking shoes. In its broadest context, the device consists of a boot portion and a wheel assembly. Such components are individually configured and correlated with respect to each other so as to attain the desired objective.

[0028] The boot portion 12 is comprised of an upper foot receiving portion 14 and a lower sole portion 16. Note FIG. 1. The upper foot-receiving portion 14 has an open upper end 18 and a closed lower end 20. The upper foot-receiving portion 14 further includes a toe portion 22 and a heel portion 24. The heel portion 24 of the upper foot-receiving portion 14 has a locking pawl 26 pivotally coupled thereto. The lower sole portion 16 is removably secured to the closed lower end 20 of the upper foot-receiving portion 14. The lower sole portion 16 is preferably constructed of a synthetic rubber and can be removed for replacement once wear and tear have had their effect. The lower sole portion 16 has a T-shaped groove 28 formed therein. The T-shaped groove 28 extends a length of the lower sole portion 16. The T-shaped groove 28 has an open forward end 30.

[0029] The wheel assembly 32 is adapted for removably coupling with the boot portion 12. The wheel assembly 32 is comprised of a housing 34 having an inverted U-shaped configuration. Note FIG. 2. The housing 34 has an upper end 36, a lower end 38, a forward end 40, and a rearward end 42. The lower end 38 has a plurality of wheels 44 coupled thereto in a linear configuration. The upper end 36 has a T-shaped track 46 secured thereto. The T-shaped track 46 is dimensioned for being slidably received within the open forward end 30 of the T-shaped groove 28 of the lower sole portion 16 of the boot portion 12. The rearward end 42 has a ratchet 48 disposed thereon for being selectively engaged by the locking pawl 26 of the boot portion 12 in a locked orientation. Note FIG. 3.

[0030] In use, a person using the present invention would walk using the boot portion 12 in a manner similar to that of everyday shoes and sneakers. When they decide to in-line skate, they simply sit down and slide the wheel assembly 32 onto the boot portion 12 by utilizing the T-shaped grooved 28 and T-shaped track 46. Once the T-shaped track 46 has been completely positioned within the T-shaped groove 28, the locking pawl 26 can be engaged with the ratchet 48 to lock the wheel assembly 32 onto the boot portion 12 and the person is ready to skate.

[0031] As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.

[0032] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and the manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

[0033] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modification and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modification and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

What is claimed as being new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:
 1. A skate with removable wheel assembly for allowing a pair of shoes to be converted from an in-line skate to a pair of walking shoes comprising, in combination: a boot portion comprised of an upper foot receiving portion and a lower sole portion, the upper foot receiving portion having an open upper end and a closed lower end, the upper foot receiving portion further including a toe portion and a heel portion, the heel portion of the upper foot receiving portion having a locking pawl pivotally coupled thereto, the lower sole portion being removably secured to the closed lower end of the upper foot receiving portion, the lower sole portion having a T-shaped groove formed therein, the T-shaped groove extending a length of the lower sole portion, the T-shaped groove having an open forward end; and a wheel assembly adapted for removably coupling with the boot portion, the wheel assembly being comprised of a housing having an inverted U-shaped configuration, the housing having an upper end, a lower end, a forward end, and a rearward end, the lower end having a plurality of wheels coupled thereto in a linear configuration, the upper end having a T-shaped track secured thereto, the T-shaped track being dimensioned for being slidably received within the open forward end of the T-shaped groove of the lower sole portion of the boot portion, the rearward end having a ratchet disposed thereon for being selectively engaged by the locking pawl of the boot portion in a locked orientation.
 2. A skate with removable wheel assembly for allowing a pair of shoes to be converted from an in-line skate to a pair of walking shoes comprising, in combination: a boot portion comprised of an upper foot receiving portion and a lower sole portion, the upper foot receiving portion having an open upper end and a closed lower end, the upper foot receiving portion further including a toe portion and a heel portion, the lower sole portion being removably secured to the closed lower end of the upper foot receiving portion, the lower sole portion having a groove formed therein, the groove extending a length of the lower sole portion, the groove having an open forward end; and a wheel assembly adapted for removably coupling with the boot portion, the wheel assembly being comprised of a housing having an inverted U-shaped configuration, the housing having an upper end, a lower end, a forward end, and a rearward end, the lower end having a plurality of wheels coupled thereto in a linear configuration, the upper end having a track secured thereto, the track being dimensioned for being slidably received within the open forward end of the groove of the lower sole portion of the boot portion.
 3. The skate with removable wheel assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein the heel portion of the upper foot receiving portion has a locking pawl pivotally coupled thereto and the rearward end of the housing of the wheel assembly has a ratchet disposed thereon for being selectively engaged by the locking pawl of the boot portion in a locked orientation.
 4. The skate with removable wheel assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein the groove and the track both are T-shaped. 